Wood graining apparatus



Feb 35, 1938.

R. E. WOOLENS- $08,355

WOOD GRAINING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l 7705/ fiWoofe/vs.

Feb. 1%, 1938. R. E. WOOLENS 210M155 WOOD GRAINING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 71 03; E fl oalens, BY-

ATTORN E Y5.

Feb, 5, m8, R. E. WOO-LENS 2,108,155

WOOD GRAINING APPARATUS Filed Mar ch 1, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Fey .13 WaoZe/Ys.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 15, 1938 e351: 7

UNITED STATES WOOD GRAINING APPARATUS Roy E. Woolens, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Parker-Wolverine Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 1, 1937, Serial No. 128,475

7 Claims.

This invention relates to wood graining apparatus. More particularly it relates to a novel form of wood graining machine primarily designed to rapidly and efficiently reproduce a simulation of wood grain upon the curved surface of a molding or other similar article.

As is well recognized, the reproduction of wood grain upon sheet metal or other similar articles has long been practiced. It has heretofore been conventional in the reproduction of wood grain upon articles having arcuately curved or irregular surfaces, to apply the wood graining ink thereto by means of a soft resilient transfer roll usually formed of gelatin or similar composition. While the rolls most commonly utilized for the purpose of transferring an imitation wood grained surface decoration-to an article are sufficiently resilient so that a certain amount of surface irregularity may be tolerated, it has been found that the elasticity of the gelatinous rolls now available is insufiicient to cover the entire surface of a molding or a similar article which has an extremely sharply curved arcuate surface. It is a primary object, therefore, to provide a mechanism which will reproduce an imitation of wood grain upon the curved surface of a molding in a single operation thus limiting the number of hand operations which must necessarily be performed and doing away to some substantial extent with the touch-up operations heretofore required.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a pair of wood graining units arranged upon axes at right angles to each other. Each of the wood graining units includes a soft resilient gelatinous transfer roll adapted.- to engage the surface of a molding to be finished. Means are utilized for driving the rolls in synchronism in order that each will apply a certain predetermined portion of wood graining to the surface of the article under treatment. The wood grain designs used uponthe hard metal electrotype rolls which are utilized for transferring the ink to the gelatinous rolls are likewise synchronized in order that the grained surface area applied by one roll will accurately match the grained surface applied by the other roll thus virtually eliminating any line of demarcation between the particular zone woodgrained by one unit and the zone of surface woodgrained by the other unit.

The invention still further contemplates means for accurately adjusting the relative positions of the respective wood graining units without altering the synchronized operation thereof in order that the zone to which woodgraining is applied by one of the units may be accurately controlled to mate accurately with the zone to which wood graining is applied by the other of said units. The invention further contemplates the provision of novel mechanism for urging the ar- 5 ticle to be finished into engagement with the respective rolls in order that an accurate mating of the zones upon which the woodgraining is produced may be obtained.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an idle roll adapted to guide and support the molding to which the graining is to be applied and a, control pedal is utilized for the purpose of accurately controlling the position of this feed roll in order that the extent to which the molding may be urged into engagement with one of the gelatinous rolls may conveniently and accurately be controlled.

The invention still further contemplates the provision of a construction primarily adapted for woodgraining. moldings which construction embodies two separate wood graining units which wood graining units are operated in synchronism and still further contemplates the provision of accurate and easily controlled means for adjusting the position of one of the units with respect to the other without in any way disturbing the synchronous operation thereof.

Many other and further objects, advantage and features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts in section and parts broken away illustrating one embodiment of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a reduced scale of the work table surface illustrating in general the configuration thereof. 40

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view with parts in section and parts broken away showing the two associated and synchronized wood graining units and illustrating the means by which these units are simultaneously driven.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 illustrating in further detail the relative positions of the separate wood graining units and the manner in which the same are mounted and interconnected. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of molding which may conveniently be wood grained by the apparatus of the present invention.

The specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings includes generally a supporting table or framework I which may conveniently be formed from any suitable construction to provide a rigid support for the apparatus as a whole. This table or framework ID has bearings which serve to provide a pivotal mounting H for tabletop I2 in order that this tabletop as a whole may be bodily swung to the desired inclination depending upon the particular type of molding to which the wood graining is to be applied, as will be more clearly understood hereinafter. The adjustment of the inclination of this tabletop may play a very important part in the adaptation of the apparatus herein described to moldings of a substantially varying form and surface curvature.

The body portion of the table II! serves to provide a rigid support for a housing l5 which may conveniently be formed of a casting of unitary integral structure, if desired. This housing I5 is provided with two pairs of respectively axially aligned bearings l6 and H, respectively. The bearings l6 serve to provide a mounting for a drive shaft l8 and the drive shaft 18 carries an etched metal wood graining roll l9 locked thereto in driving relation, between the bearings l6. The lower end of the drive shaft 18 has a bevel pinion 20 secured thereto which through a bevel gear 2|. connects the ,drive shaft in driving relation with a shaft 22 driven by a suitable electric motor 23 which motor may be conveniently mounted on the table it]. The upper end of the drive shaft carries a bevel gear 26 which meshes with a bevel gear 28 serving to drive a short stub shaft 29 which is journalled for rotation in a suitable support member 39 rigidly connected to the upper portion of the housing l5. The use and function of this apparatus will be more clearly understood from the following description.

A shaft 35 is journalled for rotation in the bearings I1 and has secured thereto a gelatinous transfer roll 36 which frictionally engages the surface of the roll l9. The roll I9 may have the surface thereof engraved or etched in the manner in which photogravure plates are produced in order that a plurality of relatively minute recesses will be formed therein which recesses serveto retain ink applied to this roll by suitable conventional means such as are commonly used in this general art. A scraper or doctor blade (not shown) is mounted in the housing l5 and has the edge thereof in engagement with the roll I9 in order to scrape: the surplus ink therefrom before this roll comes into contact with the gelatinous transfer roll 36. As is well understood in apparatus of this general character, the transfer roll 36 will serve to remove the minute bodies of ink from the surface of the etched roll l9 and carry this ink to apply the same to the article upon which it is desired to produce the wood grain. The gelatinous transfer roll, as is conventional in the art, likewise has a doctor blade (not shown) associated therewith which serves to maintain the surface of the roll clean for the reception of ink from'the etched roll I9.

to support a housing member 40 containing the second wood graining unit. This housing member 40 has a shaft 4| journalled therein which shaft serves to carry a gelatinous transfer roll 42 similar in construction to the gelatinous transfer roll 36 described above.

The housing 49a1so serves to provide bearings for a shaft 45 on which is" mounted a wood graining cylinder 46 similar in construction to the wood graining cylinder l9 described above. Suitable gears 49 and 50 may be keyed to the shafts 45 and 4], respectively, in order to insure that the rolls 46 and 42 will be driven synchronously.

The shaft 45 extends through the wall of the housing 40 and is provided at its outer end with a sprocket wheel 52 which is connected by means of a suitable sprocket chain 53 with a sprocket wheel 54 keyed to the end of the stub shaft 29. Inasmuch as has been explained above, the stub shaft 29 is driven by the drive shaft l8 which serves to drive the first wood graining cylinder l9, it will be apparent that the second wood graining cylinder 46 is likewise synchronously operatedwith the first mentioned wood graining cylinder. Consequently, it will be readily appreciated that the gelatinous transfer rolls 36 and 42 will likewise be driven in synchronism. Inasmuch as the housing 40 is supported for pivotal movement about the shaft 29, it will be readily appreciated that this housing may be pivotally moved about the axis of this: shaft without in any way disturbing the synchronous drive through the sprocket chain 53. Consequently, the relative vertical position of the transversely extending gelatinous transfer roll,may be accurately regulated without materially interfering with the synchronous operation thereof with respect to the gelatinous transfer roll 36.

The housing 40 has an operating link 60 pivotally connected thereto at the point 6| which operating link has its lower end pivotally connected to a fitting 64 slidably mounted on a vertically extending operating rod 65. The operating rod 65 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a spring pressed foot pedal 66 which is preferably constantly urged upwardly by means of a compression coil spring 61. A suitable resilient lost motion connection between the actuating rod 65 and the fitting 64 is provided by means of compression coil springs 61 surrounding the shaft 65 on either side, of the fitting 64. The lower end of the lower compression coil spring 61 may abut against a projection 68 formed integrally with the housing l5 and the upper end of the upper compression coil spring 61 may be confined by a pair of lock nuts threada ly secured on the end of the operating rod 65.

From the foregoing, it will be readily appreciated that as the foot pedal 66 is depressed, the fitting 64 will be resiliently moved downwardly carrying with it the link 60. Inasmuch as the link 60' is pivotally connected to the housing 49, it will be readily understood that the housing 40 will be bodily swung about the axis of the stub shaft 29 and moved downwardly toward the Work as will hereinafter be explained in detail.

A work feeding roll H is journalled for free rotation upon a pin 12 which pin is carried by a slide 13 mounted for transverse reciprocatory movement in a guideway 14 rigidly supported by main frame Ill. The slide 13 has its lower sur face recessed to receive one arm of a bell crank 75 which bell crank ispivotally mounted upon the main frame ID at the point 16. The-lower end of the bell crank arm 75 is pivotally connected to the fitting 64. Consequently, it will be seen that upon downward movement of the operating-shaft 65, the idle fed roll H will be moved forwardly toward the peripheral surface of the gelatinous transfer roll 36 and, as has been explained above, downward movement of the actuating rod 65 likewise serves to move the housing 40 downwardly consequently, bringing the gelatinous transfer roll 42 into engagement with work carried by the idle roll 7!.

It will be noted that the horizontal axis of the wood graining unit has the etched metal roll thereof, which is mounted on the shaft 45, positioned in a bearing block 86, the position of which may conveniently be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw 8!. The opposite end of the shaft 45 may be conveniently positioned by means of an adjustable yoke or arm 82 secured to the housing 40 by means of a bolt 83. Consequently, it will be appreciated that by adjusting the screw 8| and the yoke 82, the working pressure between the etched roll 46 and the gelatinous roll 42 may be accurately regulated. It will be appreciated that this adjustment need be effected only through an extremely narrow range and consequently the intermeshing of the gears 49 and 50 is not materially affected thereby. It will likewise be appreciated that a similar construction may be employed in connection with the etched roll it and gelatinous roll 36 if desired. Such adjustments have been found desirable in some instances because in order to get a satisfactory reproduction, the working pressure between the etched roll and the gelatinous roll has in particular installations been found extremely important.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that a curved surface molding 99 may rapidly and conveniently be wood grained by means of the machine of the present invention. In order to reproduce wood grained images upon the molding 90, the table I2 is first adjusted to a position such that it serves to support the base portion of the molding to which it is desired to apply the wood grain. The wheel 'H has a peripheral configuration adapted to smoothly engage the rear side of the molding in order to feed the same into contact with the rolls. The apparatus as a whole is preferably driven continuously and the molding 9!] may be placed upon the feed roll H and it will be understood that when the pedal 66 is in upward position, the molding mounted on the feed roll will be in a position out of contact with the both of the rolls 42 and 36. The pedal 66 may then be depressed which movement will through the spring Bl transmit downward force to the fitting 64 which downward force will be somewhat cushioned due to the lost motion connection provided by the springs 61. As the fitting $4 is moved downwardly, it will simultaneously efifect downward movement of the entire housing 48 bringing the gelatinous transfer roll 42 into contact with a portion of the upper curved surface of the molding 90 and at the same time will, through the bell crank arm 75, serve to move the feed roller H upwardly to bring the face portion of the molding into contact with the gelatinous roll 35.

It will be clear that as the pressure upon the pedal 66 is increased, the housing 40 will be moved downwardly thus deforming the surface of the gelatinous roll 42 to cover a substantial area of the curved surface of the molding. The pressure on the foot pedal 66 may be maintained in 'such a manner that the zone to which wood graining is applied by the roll 36 will mate with the zone to which wood graining is applied by means of the roll 42. Inasmuch'as the pressure on the foot pedal may be very accurately controlled, the molding 90 may have wood graining applied thereto in a single continuous operation without any overlapping or space between the zones acted upon by the transfer rolls.

It has been found that these zones can be mated sufliciently accurately in practice so that wood grain of one zone will constitute a Virtual continuation of the pattern formed by the wood grain of the other zone. In order to obtain best results, it has been found desirable to utilize matched wood grain rollers whereby the pattern formed by one roll will mate clearly with the pattern formed by the other and constitute a substantial continuation. thereof thus virtually obliterating any line of demarcation between the respective zones.

It will be readily appreciated that although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, many other and various modifications thereof falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims will become clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a machine for wood graining molding, a pair of transfer rolls, means for supporting a molding to be grained with respect to said rolls, and means for effecting movement of one of said rolls and said supporting means to bring said rolls simultaneously into engagement therewith.

2. In a wood graining machine, means for supporting a molding to be wood grained, a pair of transfer rolls for applying wood graining thereto, one of said transfer rolls adapted to apply wood graining to a portion of the surface of said molding, the other roll serving to apply wood graining to an adjacent portion of the surface thereof, means for urging one of said rolls into engagement with the work, means for moving the work into engagement with the other of said rolls and means for driving said rolls in synchronism.

3. In a machine for wood graining moldings having curved surfaces, a pair of wood graining units each including a metallic wood graining roll and a resilient transfer roll, means for mounting one of said units for pivotal movement with respect to the other, and means for driving said units in synchronism.

4. In a machine for wood graining moldings, a pair of wood graining units each comprising a metallic wood graining roll and a resilient transfer roll, an idle roller adapted to support a molding to be wood grained, means for moving said idle roller toward one of said transfer rolls, and simultaneously actuated means. for moving the other transfer roll toward said idle roll.

5. Apparatus for applying wood graining to moldings including in combination a pair of wood graining units each including an etched metal wood graining roll and a resilient transfer roll, the axes of the rolls of one unit being substantially inclined to the axes of the rolls of the other unit, one of said units being operated for pivotal movement with respect to the other and a motor serving to drive all of said rolls in synchronism.

6. Printing apparatus including a pair of transfer rolls, one of said rolls being bodily movable with respect to the other, a work supporting member movable to force an article to be printed into engagement with one of said transfer rolls supporting member, means for actuating said member to force work carried thereby into engagement with one of said rolls into engagement with the article to be printed and a member for simultaneously actuating said two last mentioned 5 means ROY E. WOOLENS. 

